Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-16
Progress and Poverty Considered
from n NGu-Poiiticai stand.

Progress and Poverty Considered
from n Nou-Politicai Stand-
point.
So much has been said as to the in
fiuence of the new party OF the
Messrs. George and McGlynn from
political point of view-that is to say,
with regard to its effects upon the for
tunes of the Democratic and Repuli-
can parties ,respectively-that other as
poets of the question have been meas
urably overlooked. Puck is the only
journal that has thus far grasped one
aspect of the situation, and that viva
cious journal has represented the
secular George and the eler-
ical McGlynn hobnobbing over foam
ing beakers of champagne, while
numerous emptied bottles of the same
fascinating beverage, with its carbonie
acid gas and other attributes evapo-
rated. while lot of deluded and un-
happy workingmen are supposed to he
lettering around in the background
with their grievances unadjusted.
This is the sardonic and burlesque
presentation of the matter. While 1t
rovokes a laugh it by no means
strikes the ideal suggestions which in
here in the subject.
1t was Sancho Panza, the illustrious
companion of Don Quixote de la Man
cha, who acquitted himself OF the
aphorism, blessed be the man who
invented sleep" Here was depth
of wisdom not heretofore discovered
even by the learned. The ameliora-
ton in the condition of mankind
which followed this precious inven-
ton can only be appreciated by the
poor wretch who has tossed in the
throes of fever, seeking that balm,
Astifed Natures sweet restorer," which
I'D till this time had been denied to
the human race. Until this capital
alienation of toll and sweat had been
accorded this work k-a-day world of ours
the primeval curse recorded in Gene
sis must have been grieyous indeed.
We have been assured from other
sources that the man who could make
one blade of grass grow where but one
rrew before is benefactor of his
species who far outshone all the states
men, warriors and poets that ever ex-
listed. We see some force in this argu-
ment, especially when regard is had
to the theory of Nautilus. That SOM
bre political economist developed,
about the beginning of the present
century, the unamiable idea that the
earth was already overpopulated. If
II such pessimist theory were to be
accepted, the man who could double
the production OF the worlds leading
staples of food-for We presume that
the author OF this apopthegm meant
that the cereals equally with the
grasses should be doubled-would in
deed be "A signal benefactor OF his
species. He certainly did not mean
that his fellows should be imitators OF
Nebuchadnezzar and eat of grass pure
and simple. He undoubtedly recalled
the scriptural intimation that all flesh
is grass, and had his eye upon the
multiplied hocks and herds and the
duplicated milkpails and cheeses,
which would mean doubled popula-
fion supported with ease and luxury.
Double the Spontaneous and beautiful
alfilerillas and bounteous alfalfas of
California, and the whole State would
rise up and sing hosannahs to the
man through whose agency the mira
ele was accomplished.
The poet, statesman, warrior, in
yentor and lawgiver deserve well of
their fellow citizens. Their achieve
ments have been celebrated in song
and story. The sculptured marble
and casts of bronze have borne testi-
mony to their great works. But what
are the deeds of all these put together,
with Sancho Panza's inventor OF
sleep and the philosophers multiplier
of grass included, the latter on the
principle of throwing in the tail with
the hide, compared to the incompara-
ble act of the man who, without ar
resting progress, shall abolish pow
erty?
This is what the Messieurs George
and McGlynn aim to do at one fell
sweep. What wonder is it, then, that
from all the oyercrowded haunts OF
big cities, from the swarming mills
and factories; from the fetid and dan
per-lined chasms of coal mines and
iron mines, and from mines where
the materials to make massy ingots Of
gold and silver, should arise the cry
Eureka" and that immense masses
Of heavy-laden mortals should hail
these gentlemen as deliverers? To
he transformed at once from hewers of
wood and drawers of water into the
heneficiaries OF all the tislfructs of all
the real estate in the world is pro-